And are hastening to death wherever they are. Seneca (if I did not know that he was a heathen I could imagine him to have been one of the holy Fathers, from the way in which he speaks of this subject) says: See how those who have to go on a long sea-voyage, or to risk their lives in battle, make their wills before setting out. And why do they do that? Why are they so anxious? They are still strong and healthy, and have no wish to die. Why are they in such a hurry about their last wills? Because on sea and in battle death is but three paces distant, and therefore it is not advisable to go so near to death without having first written down that will which is probably to be the last. Hear now what Seneca says to this: O foolish mortals! you must know that in all places and times we are just as near to death; he is as little removed from us on land as on sea, at home in bed as in the battle-field.[1] The only thing he has to do is to cut the slender thread of our lives. The only difference is that in some places he appears nearer, while in others he keeps himself concealed.[2] Death is near, on sea and in the battle-field, and he shows himself as at hand; he is quite as close at home and on land, but he does not show himself; that is, we imagine we are not in immediate danger of being surprised by him. He is near and shows himself to the sick and aged; he is just as near, without showing himself, to the young and healthy; and in all cases the hour of his coming is uncertain. If, then, we think it necessary to put our affairs in order before undertaking a dangerous voyage, or going into battle, or when we are grievously ill, because death is to be feared in such circumstances, why do we not always keep ourselves ready, since in all times and places there is the same danger to dread? This argument was suggested to a mere heathen by the simple light of reason. My dear brethren, what can we Christians say to this, if not to acknowledge, to our secret shame, that many of us, although we have known that same truth by the infallible light of faith, have spent years in vice and sin and vanity, without ever thinking of our last end, to say nothing of preparing for it? This is what St. Bernard calls a terrible, incomprehensible blindness and presumption.
How unwise to trust one’s only soul to But there is one excuse, I know, that men bring forward to blind themselves to the truth, or rather to help the devil to close their eyes to the danger. And what is that? It is true, they
